that question...

Seven!

I had to actually go back and count exactly how many times

we have opened that blue door at the top of the stairs & invited folks

into our 100+ year old hayloft for a Barn Sale.  I remember thinking 

that this would be a fun adventure...and each year it grew, with a line

that awaited the opening of that door at our last sale in October of 

2013.  Never did I imagine that it would take six of us to run the sale

the first morning.  Needless to say, it surpassed all my hopes!

I would guess that you have a pretty good idea of the time it 

takes to ready for a sale.  Certainly it is a labor of love, but it 

does require time.  And between my health and now a job change, 

time is a luxury!

A week does not pass without someone kindly asking if we will again host 

a Barn Sale.  And as much as I want to answer with an enthusiastic "yes"~~

the truth is I am not sure.

This remains the place where I will share any Barn Sale updates.

Thanks for asking...and for your gracious support.

meet Lucy...

Fine, I am admitting to truly being a certified crazy cat lady...

there are worse things to be & vices to have.

So meet Lucy Lily...adopted from the Eau Claire Humane Society 

just this afternoon.  She is 2 months old--with a purr, but no meow.

Rosie cannot believe my indignation, bringing this little being into

her home.  But I know that my Rosie is lonely since Shawnee passed on.

She will eventually be quite O.K. With this change.

As for me, I am over the moon in love with this sweetie.  The

litter she was from were all named after some sort of Beatle's 

connections...Harrison, Yoko, and of course my little girl - 

"Lucy in the sky with diamonds".

I imagine I will spend a good portion of my weekend with this 

sweetie...lucky me!

been busy

We filled a dumpster last weekend~ cleaning out our barn,

corn crib and pulling up carpeting in the house.  Then it was on

to spring cleaning...touching everything in the study, living room,

t.v. room, dining room and today our bedroom.  What I didn't feel I 

need went in a bin for Goodwill or my basket to sell at the Hixton 

Antique Mall.  

The dining room has the biggest change, with a wool area rug brought

down from the study.  The room has one cranberry wallpapered wall...and

highlights the Wattsware pitchers from my mom.

The quilt on the table came home from a recent buying trip to

Minnesota ~ I thought I would tuck it away for next Christmas...

but I rather like the colors now.

I gathered greens & raspberry & brought them all to rest

in this room for summer.  It all feels rather festive!

nest

Today I put our home back together...an unlikely plan for

Mother's Day ~ but one I relish all the same.  The dining

room, living room & study are all on my list.  I will touch each

item deciding to keep or store away or maybe sell.  Rooms 

will become nests, and just like the busy bluebirds & wrens & 

sparrows at our farm ~ I will feather them.

Yesterday was a busy day, as we filled a dumpster, cleaning out

the corn crib and barn...pulling out carpeting in the house.  We 

ended the day at the Hixton Antique Mall at midnight ~ unloading

a car full of stuff.  Today I continue.

Dave is working, Ian began my day with a call...now the day is mine.

I feel like a bird in flight ~ on a path to finding just the right nesting

material.  Swooping here and there, readying my nest for summer.

Shawnee

Early Tuesday morning we said "good bye" to our sweet Shawnee.  He arrived with his brother, McCoy, to our former home in Sun Prairie in 1999.  He traveled to our farm in 2007 and loved this big farmhouse.  He was Ian's boy, and later in life ~ Dave's buddy.  As McCoy was the soul, Shawnee was the heart.  He was a kind, gentle cat....growing to love the little kitten, August Rose, that came to live in our home in the past few years.  He taught her to "flop".  

Last night Dave buried Shawnee in our apple orchard.  He shares a grave with McCoy...who passed on last fall.  I will plant pansies on their grave.

Circles of life.  Each animal on our farm holds a special place in our hearts.  They are our dear hearts.  We know that they will eventually leave us, and we mourn their passing & celebrate their lives.

May their memories be for a blessing.